The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, NOV. 29, 1890. Denominationalism

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 70, 29 November 1890, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, NOV. 29, 1890. Denominationalism

Our contemporary the New Zealand Times has strong opinions on the question of interfering with the present Education system of the colony, and urges it should be preserved in its integrity. It is admitted the system bears hardly upon those who feel themee'ves debarred by conaciencious scruples from making use of the State Schools, towards which they have to pay through taxation, while they put an additional tax on themselves voluntarily for the maintenance of schools conducted according to their own views. This is a grievance we confcn but it can hardly be designated as a wrong as far as they are concerned, but if this grievance were removed by the introduction of denominationalism, that would be a greater wrong to the great mass of the people. As to the specious plea that the plan embodied in the Private Schools Bill would really supplement and assist the present system instead of operating adversely to its interests, because it would relieve the State of large expense in the the way of new school- buildings, etc., that is self- evidently fallacious. No 1 Adherents and admirers of the present system must be on their guard. Its very existence is gravely menaced by such proposals as that of the Private Schools Bill, which is receiving a considerable amount of quiet but resolute advocacy. The only safety consists in a firm determination to preserve in its main features at any rate, the system of free, secular, and compulsory education which this colony has adopted, and of which the large majority of its inhabitants are justly proud.